Sociology: Social Stratification Course*

Undergraduate Class

3 credits (Instruction in English)

1 semester (One lecture per week for 1 1/2 hours)

Brian Phillips Office Hours:

Office

Phone and by apt

Course Description:

This course highlights social stratification and inequality in the United States from a critical class perspective. Although the class is designed to educate students to the unequal distribution of class power, we will briefly review issues of discrimination and how it relates to race, ethnicity and gender. Students will become familiar with specific theories as well as the creation of minority group status in the United States. Although the course will center on the U.S., a global perspective will be offered.In the beginning of the semester we will review the main sociological theories of functionalism, symbolic interactionism and the conflict perspective. We will then review specific theories that relate to social class inequalities and highlight specific concerns such as class discrimination, wealth and poverty. Also, students will become briefly familiar with theories of minority group status. Toward the end of the semester a more broader approach to inequality will be reviewed focusing on the stratification of the interstate system i.e. globalization

Courses such as this one can elicit a variety of responses from students. It is important to keep in mind that we must all work together to assure open and honest classroom discussions and ones that are respectful to all students. This is a lecture based class with student discussion.

Course objectives

Individuals and groups, both human and animal, situated on the margins of the dominant society have often been the sources of contempt, ridicule, misunderstanding, and fear. Courses in this theme take an intimate and scholarly look at marginalized “outsiders.” The theme will help students understand the social structures and processes that create and maintain marginalization, analyze the responses of the marginalized, and appreciate the experience of being an outsider. Such understanding leads one to appreciate the reciprocity between self and other, and self and society.

Achieved Skills

Identify and analyze the means by which a dominant culture or group creates the state of marginalization.
Examine and comprehend the experiences and responses of marginalized individuals and groups.

Content Goals

Engage in articulate expression through effective speaking;
To engage in articulate expression through effective writing;
Think critically and creatively;
Locate, evaluate, and use information effectively;
To integrate different areas of knowledge and view ideas from multiple perspectives

Required Text:

Kerbo, Harold. Social Stratification and Inequality. McGraw Hill 2012 (8th edition).
Yates, Michael, D. The Great Inequality. Routledge 2016 (Taylor and Frances Group)

Attendance

Attendance will be mandatory and taken regularly. You can miss 1 class for any reason, only after the second absence do I need to see a written excuse from a physician. Please try to be on time for class. And, most importantly. please do not use cell phones in class.

Exams

I will give three exams which will consist of essay questions (the exams are not cumulative). Final grades will be based on the exams (each exam counting 1/3 of your final grade). No make-ups will be given unless documentation of an emergency is provided. All makeup exams will occur TBA Please note that makeup exams will not be curved.Essay questions for exams will come from in-class lectures and/or your readings. In reference to your readings, I may supply students with specific questions. Students are encouraged to answer these questions since they may be used as exams questions.

Class Participation and other Requirements

Participating in class discussions is encouraged. You COULD gain or lose points. You may be tested on information given by guest lecturers and in movies/videos. Students normally can expect to spend 3 hours per week of out of classroom studying for each credit hour the class is worth. For example, if the course is a 3-credit class, students can expect to spend 9 hours per week studying. There are no mandatory office hours for the course. But, feel free to see me anytime during office hours or by appointment.

Other Assignments

If I find that the students are not doing the readings I may assign all students to hand in summaries of all scheduled readings. These summaries will be mandatory but not graded. If the summaries are done poorly or if you do not do the summaries at all, your final grade will be reduced by 1/2 letter grade for each incomplete or missed summary. Please do the readings.

Grading System

91-100% -5 (very good)

81-90% -4.5 (Good +)

71-80% -4(Good)

61-70% -3.5(Satisfactory +)

51-60% -3(Satisfactory)

50%>(failure)

Please note that you will pass the class with a class average of 51% or higher.

Videos and DVD”s

The Corporation, 2005

Note

For the lecture and reading schedule below, I strongly encourage students to divide up the readings to the number of lectures in each section. All students should, at least, have the readings finished by the last date of each section. Please be aware that although I lecture on the readings in a general way, you must do all the readings to do well in this course. The reading schedule is subject to revision.

Section I: Theories of Society(Weeks 1, 2)

In this section, we review the idea of society and the different ways this concept can be viewed. Definitions of terms will be discussed as well as accompanying explanations of theoretical approaches.

First Day of ClassIntroduction

Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality. Chpt. 4,5

Section II: Prejudice, Discrimination, Gender and Minority Group Status (Weeks 3, 4)

Here we review the topics of prejudice, discrimination, minority group status and class issues. And, highlight the Functional and Conflict perspectives of Marx and Durkheim.

Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality. Chpt. 10,11

TEST #1 DATE OF TEST WILL BE MONDAY ?

Section III: Class (Weeks 5, 6, 7)

The theories of Parsons, Dahrendorf and Weber are reviewed as well as a discussion on the class structure in the United States.

Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality. Chpt. 6,7,8,

Section IV: Wealth and Poverty (Weeks 8, 9)

Here we elaborate on poverty and the political economy of welfare. We also review issues concerning wealth and social mobility.

Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality. Chpt. 9,12

TEST #2DATE OF TEST WILL BE MONDAY ?

Section V: Stratification in the World System(Week 10)

In this section, we will highlight the characteristics of the World Stratification System and the development of the Modern World System. Also reviewed will be development theory and issues of Globalization.

Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality. Chpt. 14

Section VI: Markets and the Economy of Inequality (Weeks 11, 12)

Here we review the consequences and causes of inequality, income and wealth inequality, and the theory of economic markets as seen by competing theorists.

Yates, The Great Inequality. Chpt. 1, 2, 3, 4

Section VII: The Slavery of Class, Work, Theory and Protest (Weeks 13, 14, 15)

In this section, we review the injuries of class and racism, environmentaldestruction, political protest and the issue of longer hours and fewer good paying jobs.

Yates, The Great Inequality. Chpt. 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12

Section VIII: Wrap up

Last Day of Classno readings

FINAL EXAM

*There are no prerequisites for this class